How To Choose A Premier League Club
Most important life decisions: who you serve, who you marry, and which club you support.
So you’re sitting in front of your computer screen, and you’re finally ready to commit.
Your friends and family have urged you to give up the bachelor life and settle down.
And you know it’s because they love you.
You’re just afraid of what’s on the other side.
Plus, how do you even pick one?
You don’t want to be the guy or gal who commits and then leaves when their team hits poor form.
This is an important decision you feel completely unprepared for.
As a happily married-to-Arsenal fan from the States, I understand your challenge.
After a couple years of cautiously consuming football, I too went through the arduous process of picking a club — My club.
How I Chose Arsenal
It was the summer of 2017. I’d spent the last two years casually supporting Barcelona since that’s the first club I was introduced to. Plus, MSN. I’d occasionally tap into the Premier League but wasn’t serious about watching football. Yet.
Then something changed.
I started analyzing Premier League footballers to improve my own game. And as I gained more exposure to the league, I began to enjoy it more and more.
Finally, I decided it was time to pick a club. The big question was: which one?
Even in the infancy of my fandom, I knew once I chose a club, there was no turning back. So I immediately began weighing my options.
First was Chelsea.
I mean, how could it not be? They’d won the league for the second time in three consecutive seasons. They had world-class talent in Hazard, Costa, and Kante. They had a world-class manager and were playing some beautiful football. What’s not to love?
Next was City.
They’d finished third during the 2016/17 campaign under a charismatic Pep Guardiola. Their football was smooth, and they too had world-class talent in Aguero, KDB, and Sterling.
But what about Tottenham?
They’d finished second with some brilliant talent. And they scored A LOT of goals. I liked that. Doesn’t look like they have many trophies…but, I thought, still a team to keep in mind.
Then, Arsenal.
Immediately, I was in love.
They’d finished 5th that season, so they certainly weren’t the best team. It looks like there’s some outrage around the manager. But it didn’t matter because I was spellbound.
Sanchez…unbelievable.
Ozil…world-class.
Giroud, Walcott, Xhaka, Ramsey. Strong leadership in Koscielny, not to mention the exciting youth in Iwobi and Bellerin.
And unlike Tottenham, who I guess are their north London rivals, Arsenal won things.
The team played with an arrogance, confidence, and charisma I‘d never seen.
Sure, Barcelona had incredible passing.
But with Arsenal, it never looked like they were doing rondos on a training ground. Every pass had intention. One intention: bring us closer to a goal.
It was some of the most beautiful football I’d ever seen. It was forward-thinking, sexy, and the type of play I wanted to be associated with.
I choose Arsenal.
PERSONALITY
The key is to pick a club that reflects your personality
It may sound odd, but the search for a club to support starts some self-analysis. Who are you?
With that, there are five main areas you’ll want to consider:
- Club Status
- Style of Play
- Club Culture
- Players
- Fanbase
Club Status
Not all clubs are created equal.
Some will fight for the title. Others will fight for survival.
And each type of battle comes with its highs and lows. So again, ask yourself: what kind of person am I?
Do you want the thrill of being a title contender, playing Los Blancos in the Champions League, and winning major honors right now?
In that case, look no further than Manchester City.
Or maybe you want a project. Maybe you want to be part of a club’s gradual progression (or re-progression) to stardom. As an Arsenal fan, I must encourage you to join the Gunners.
But if you’re looking to get in on the ground floor, I’d recommend Aston Villa, Newcastle, or Burnley.
Villa have been transformed under manager Unai Emery, who’s returned to the EPL after an impressive spell with Villareal.
Right now, the Lions hunt in a 4–4–2, profiting from Buendia’s ability to create chances for an in-form Ollie Watkins.
Under Emery, Villa have achieved a 56% win rate, compared to their dismal 25% win rate BE (Before Emory). Keep in mind that he’s only been there for 7 months.
Rumors suggest big things from Emery in the coming transfer window. That, in addition to the talent already at the club, makes Aston Villa an attractive prospect.
Overperforming or the next Man City? Regardless, The Magpies have had an unbelievable season.
Since earning promotion in 2017, Newcastle had consistently finished in the midtable.
Then the club was bought in 2021, making them “the richest club in world football.” Following that move was the appointment of Eddie Howe, who, similar to Emery, has transformed this team.
You’ll have players you can get excited about in Isak and Guimaraes, wealthy ownership, a passionate fanbase, and an experienced manager.
Few teams have crossed the 100-pt tally. Burnley is one of them.
There is a caveat, however. It’s almost impossible to tell if Championship success can translate to Premier League success. The good news is- it doesn’t have to. At least, not immediately.
All a team like Burnley has to do is stay up in their first EPL season. But given the ruthless manner in which the Clarets tore apart their opposition this season, I imagine they’ll more than avoid the drop.
There’s no right or wrong answer to what it is you like. But getting clear on this will help you make the best decision for you.
Style of Play
When you think Barcelona, you think tiki-taka — an expansive, almost tyrannical style of play.
When you think about your new club, what do you want to think about?
Explosive counters — Explosive counter-attacks are a marvelous aspect of football. And what makes them so unique is they require near-perfect execution.
You have about 10 seconds to outpace, outpass, and outthink your opponent. It’s a skill that teams like Liverpool and Manchester United are masters at.
Tottenham Hotspur is an honorable mention. However, Spurs often employ a sit-back/absorb tactic before launching a counter-attack.
It looks great when it works, but inviting so much pressure can lead to conceding the most goals in the top half of the table. I may be biased, but stats don’t lie.
Suffocating play — Teams like Arsenal, Manchester City, and Brighton build their game around smothering their opponents. It’s a style many dub death by a thousand passes and leads to monopolistic amounts of possession.
Set plays — In football, you have to play to your strengths. Some teams, often with lesser-skilled XIs, build their tactics around corners, free kicks, long throw-ins, and penalties.
For example, Brentford currently lead the league with 19 goals from set plays. Just behind them is Fulham with 16.
Whether the style of play is part of the club’s identity or temporarily used, finding out what excites you will help narrow down your options.
Club Culture
This part usually takes the longest to understand, but you should learn about the club’s culture.
Much of the culture is built from a club’s history. For example, Liverpool and Man United have “winning cultures” because of their unparalleled number of trophies.
Rivalries are a key area of club culture since your club identity is as much in who you support as in who you despise.
Re-using the previous example, Liverpool and Man United have been fierce rivals due to sociopolitical issues dating back to the 19th century.
It’s difficult for new supporters to fully grasp this cultural aspect, which is why I’ve created the channel Football Culture.
If you’re interested in the North West Derby specifically (Liverpool vs. Man United), check out the video I made on it: https://youtu.be/2BTvSRqsTFQ.
You’ll get a detailed walkthrough of United and Liverpool’s individual histories, how the rivalry began, grew, and what it’s like today.
Players
Ultimately, we watch this game for the players.
Your favorite player doesn’t have to be at your new club but finding 2–3 players you love watching will improve your fan experience.
For me, they were Alexis Sanchez, Ozil, and Ramsey.
Fanbase
Remember, when you join a club, you join a community.
So understanding what community you’re joining will help inform your decision.
If you’re a foreign supporter, I’d recommend podcasts and fan forums to better understand the community you’re joining.
Congrats! You’re ready to choose your Premier League club.
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